Released from more than one hundred years of revenge, the Angel of Death is no longer a tool for the Grand Council of the Chosen. He is finally free to return to a semblance of a life with Father Paul Notus. Haunted by nightmares of his past misdeeds and failings the Angel wants nothing more than to be left alone. It is across the Atlantic, in a foreign country, that he joins Notus, taking up the mantle once more as a protector in a land where those who would see him dead have flourished. Corbie Vale has not forgotten what the Angel has done. His own burning need to see the Angel humiliated and Destroyed sets into motion a carefully seeded plan despite warnings of greater retribution. Now in Corbie’s territory, the Angel’s sword becomes the lure to a trap, one that changes the Angel by giving him what he never dreamed of – mortality.

Review:

The next instalment in Karen Dales’ must read The Chosen Chronicles, is as impressive as the first.This tale picks up the story of Angel and Notus almost more than a century after the tragic loss of Angel’s Jeanie to the vampires. The Angel has completed his mission in Europe and now must follow Notus on an ill advised trip to Canada.Undeterred by pleadings from the master and mistress of England, Notus and Angel plunge headlong into the vampire held new world. The Angel risks all, in order that Notus may fulfill his dream of showing his own original illuminations from centuries ago.

We will meet some new characters in the Shadow of Death and come to a better understanding of what exactly the Angel is.I do not wish to spoil the surprise; however there are some unusual developments within Shadow of Death regarding the Angel’s, shall we say, evolution on his path towards his final metamorphosis.Old Gods and modern practitioners of the old religion introduce new facets to an already novel tale of an albino vampire that can’t tolerate steel or water crossings.

This is a fabulous story, well conceived and illustrated in such a way that the reader will not put it down until they’ve completed it.The cliff hanger will leave you begging for the next instalment and while there is not as much humour to be found within part two, the tragedy has escalated.You cannot miss with Karen’s book.You will love it.If you haven’t read the first one yet, start there and then you too will be waiting impatiently for book number three.This is the kind of story that leaves you both begging for more and hoping that the next one won’t be the finale because you can’t quite bear for it to end.Another wonderful job Karen!